Ear protector



C. N. HEFLIN NOW BY CHANGE OF NAME C. N. MORRIS EAR PROTECTOR Filed Jan. 26, 1948 Oct. 9, 1951 INVENTOR CAROL N HEFLIN NOW BY CHANGE OF NAME, CAROL N. MORRIS ATTORNEYS Patented a. 9, 1951 STATS PAT m? orrioe I 2,570,675 EAR Piio'rEc'roR Carol N. Heflin,'Lodi, Calif., now by change ol name Carol N. Morris Application January 26, .1948, Serial 'No. 4,370.

4 Claims. (Cl. 128-151) heat, water, steam, soap, .air pressure, or solutions such as dye or bleach, during the course of the hair treatment.

Another object of the invention is to provide ear protectors, for the purpose described, which are readily applied to or removed from the ears;

such protectors being generallyform fitting, and having a minimum of projection to interfere with the hair dressers manipulations.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide ear rotectors, as above, which are molded of a material such as relatively hard rubber, plastic, or the like, which can withstand sterilization by heat or chemical solution.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide ear protectors, which are relatively simple in structure, and readily manufactured.

A further object of the invention is to produce a practical, sanitary, and convenient device and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing one of the ear protectors as in use.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of one of the ear protectors detached and looking toward the inner side of the same.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the ear protectors, which comprise the present invention, are used in opposed pairs, one for each ear of the person whose hair is being treated or dressed. Other than the fact that the ear protectors are formed as opposites, in each pair, they are identical in structure and, therefore, a description of one will suffice for both.

Each ear protector is in the form of a cap I, which cap is generally symmetrical to but slightly larger than a persons ear, and is adapted to engage over the latter in protective relation in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1.

The ear protector or cap I includes an outer 'wall 2 which is shaped to generally follow the ca contours, and said wall includes an inward projection 3 adapted to engage, in locating relation, in the central-cavity of the ear. At its outer edges the outer wall 2 curves inwardly'to forma rounded peripheral 'wall 4, and

an inner wall 5 formed integral with said peripheral wall 4.

The inner wall 5 is formed with an ear entry opening, indicated at '6, which ear entry opening is slightly smaller than the persons ear on which the device is adapted to be used. The inner wall 5, as formed with the ear entry opening'fi, provides what may be termed holding lips I all about said opening. At the rear or back edge of the ear entry opening '6 the corresponding or adjacent holding up 1 is formed with an inturned flange 8.

The entire cap I is of integral construction and is manufactured of a material such as a relatively hard rubber, plastic, or the like; such material being characterized by the fact that it may be sterilized, without damage, either by heat or chemical solutions.

When the ear protectors are in use, one thereof is engaged over each ear of the person whose hair is being treated or dressed. This is accomplished by inserting each car through the entry opening 6 of the corresponding cap I, the ear being flexed or bent to the extent necessary to gain access through such opening 6 which is of slightly smaller size as described. Once the ear is in the cap I it re-assumes normal position with the top of the ear and the lobe being disposed in said cap in the manner shown in Fig. 3.

With the ear protector caps in place, the hairdressing operation canbe accomplished without the ear being exposed to heat, water, steam, soap, air flow or pressure, or solutions such as dye or bleach. This adds greatly to the comfort of the person whose hair is being dressed or treated, and the hair dresser need not be constantly on the alert to prevent access of foreign material into the customers ears.

The inturned flange 8 of each cap I engages the side of the head directly behind the ear to not only stabilize the protector but also to provide an effective seal against the passage of foreign substance.

After a pair of the ear protectors have been used they are sterilized by heat or chemical solution before reuse; the device bein very sanitary each time applied to a customer.

The design of the ear protector is such that it may be readily molded from a relatively hard material such as rubber or suitable plastic.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in' practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the apppended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent is desired:

1. An ear protector, for use during hair dressing or the like, in the form of an ear cap comprising an outer wall and an inner wall in spaced relation, and a peripheral wall connecting the inner and outer walls, the inner wall having an ear entry opening therein, and the outer wall being shaped generally in matching relation to ear contours; said outer wall including an inward projection for engagement in the central cavity of the ear.

2. An ear protector, for use during hair dressing or the like, in the form of an ear cap comprising, as an integral device, an inner wall, an outer wall spaced therefrom, and a peripheral wall connecting the inner and outer walls, the outer wall being shaped generally to ear contours and including an inward projection to engage in the central cavity of the ear, and the inner wall having an ear entry opening therein of smaller size than an ear whereby to form cap retention lips of said wall about the opening.

3. An ear protector, for use during hair dress- .4 ing or the like, in the form of an ear cap comprising, as an integral device, an inner wall, an outer wall spaced therefrom, and a peripheral wall connecting the inner and outer walls, the outer wall being shaped generally to ear contours and including an inward projection to engage in the central cavity of the ear, and the inner wall having an ear entry opening therein of smaller size than an ear whereby to form cap retention lips of said wall about the opening; the back lip havin an inturned flange along the edge adjacent said opening.

4. An ear protector for use during hair dressing or the like, comprising an ear cap which includes an outer wall and an inner Wall spaced therefrom, and a peripheral wall connecting the inner and outer walls, the inner wall being provided with an opening through which an car may .be introduced into the cap between the walls, the

inner wall being continuous about said opening, and an inturned flange on the inner wall along the back edge of the opening and adapted to engage the head of the wearer behind the ear.

CAROL N. HEFLIN, Now by change of name, Carol N. Morris.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,651,650 Walsh Dec. 6, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 245,509 Great Britain Jan. 8, 1926 

